Rotating Between Heat and Ice Can Help After Oral Surgery

Having oral surgery can be quite an ordeal. Even after the surgery is over and finished, you will find that you are restricted in what you are able to do, what you can and cannot eat, and so on.

As such, many of our patients ask us what they can do in order to help speed the process along.

One thing we frequently discuss is the practice of alternating between cooling ice packs and warming heat packs. This practice gives you the best of both worlds.

Ice Can Help Reduce Swelling and Alleviate Pain

As you probably know, getting oral surgery means you will be dealing with at least some swelling and discomfort after the fact. Although we take every precaution to perform the procedure with a minimal amount of trauma to the site, it is simply the nature of oral surgery that there will be some lingering effects while you heal.

Using ice reduces the flow of blood to the area, keeping the swelling down and alleviating soreness. This can be a great comfort for the immediate day or two after the procedure.

Heat Can Help Speed Healing

At the same time, you don't want to restrict the flow of blood for too long, or too severely. Keep in mind that your body uses the nutrients in the blood to help repair itself. To this end, you want to be sure that the oral surgery site has adequate blood flow in order to supply the tissue with the materials it needs.

Many people alternate between ice and heat to speed the healing time while, at the same time, reducing the soreness and discomfort. Every person's situation is slightly different, but you may want to experiment with alternating ice and heat, changing up the duration of each until you find a setting that is most comfortable for you.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at Centennial Hills: (702) 660-5574, Summerlin: (702) 660-5576 today.